Finishing automobile or similar bodies



Jan. 29, 1935. B Q PLACE FINISHING AUTOMOBILE OR SIMILAR BODIES Filed April 28, 1950 e 50 showing the improved sheet metal member prothe Channel formed by the body 1L Patented Jan. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcEff` FINISHING AUTOMOBILE OR SIHLAR BODIES Bion C. Place, Detroit, Mich., assigner of onehalf to George E. Gagnier, Detroit, Mich. Application April 28, 1930, Serial N0. 447,953

13 Claims. (Cl). 296f137) This invention relates to a method and arlFigure 3 is asectional view taken on the plane rangement for iinishing the interior of vehicle indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 2. bodies such as automobile bodies. More partic-l Figures 4 and 5,-are, respectively, sectional and ularly, the invention relates to a novel method4 side elevational views of the head lining and the 5 and arrangement of securing the head lining and reinforcing strip applied thereto. l 5f the side finish panels or material to the frame of Figure 6 is a sectional view" showing the4 head` the body adjacent the upper corners thereof. lining in position in the securing member with' The primary object of the invention is to prothe securing prongs i bent so as to lsecure said vide a simple method and arrangement for selining to said member.

10' curing the head lining and the side nish mate- Figures 'l and 8 are, respectively, sectional and` l0 I rials of the vehicle body to the metallic or similar side elevational Views showing aside panel deframe of such abody, in such manner that a sinsignedto be secured in place by these'curing e1e` gle sheet metal element, preferably shaped to proments of this invention. n e

vide a channel is utilized to secure the head lining 4Figure 9 is a sectional View showing the lining 16 as Well as the sidepanels or material so that said and side covering in nal assembled relation. l5

lining and the side nnishing material are held at Like reference characters indicate like parts all points along the length thereof providing a throughoutthe several .iiguresrr -v y g neat and smoothv joint adjacent the upper corner This lIlVeIltOll iS intended particularly t0; Se* of the automobile body that may be produced with cure the head lining and the side coveringy of a 20 a minimum of expenditure of time and at a rela- Vehicle Yybodysuch as an automobile body,to the 20 tively low cost. fralnevvjork4 of said body Without utilizing a multi-,`

A still further object of the invention is to propleitypf fasteners and WOOvdel 'attaching strips. duce a novel method and arrangement for secur-l T0 this end a unitary metallic Securing membeli, ing the head lining and the nishmaterial for the preferably formed Ofsheet metal, is utilized, andA i sides of an automobile g1-,similar body to the said member is so formed asto readily permit its 25y frame of that body Without using fasteners that` attachment to the sides of th'ebody, and so asto, could be applied only at intervals along` the length provide'a Channel to receivethe edeeof Jthe head.Y of said lining or linien material, and in which'such lining as Well as an edeeof the Sideipenel orsimfasteners are replaced by a continuous sheet metal iler Covering materiellY that iS used'to nish the strip that firmly 'holds the lining and nish masides of the vehicle body. While' the inventionA 30' terial at all points. is intended particularly for use in' connection with .A

Another object of the invention is to provide a, automobile 'bOdeSi it Will be readily lmdel'StOOd" novel method and arrangement for securing trim that it is capable 0f application in any Situation materialto the -insidelof a metal body without Where it is desired to secure finishing panels or' l using wooden stripsto receive driven fasteners for, materiels t0 e COlnel 0f 'e frame 0f any CheraCteI-, 35

the purpose of attaching the material to the metal' The, at .presentpreferred, form of .Securing body. member is, illustrated in detail in4 Figures 2 and Further objects of the inventionreside in the 3 0f the drawing and' constitutes a sheet metal, provision of an arrangement permitting thecon-` member, eOllStTllCted 0f Sheet Stee1 01" the like 40 vement Securing of the head liningY in the ange and bent to provide the Achannel 10. Preferably 40I of a metallic securing member in advance of the said Channel is provided, es Shown in the ieures` attachment of the side lining material to the same Just referred t0, by ybending an edge 0f a Sheeti member l metal strlp'll at right angles to form'the vbottom` Further objects of the invention Will'appear 120i the channel andbY-then bending the edge 0f as a description thereof proceeds with referencev Said bottom again at right angles into Substantial 45' parallelism with the body l1 forming 'a flange 13, constitutingk one ofthe Vside .Walls` of thev channel l0. Preferably the side Wall 13 is substantially shorter than the oppositeiside wall of to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figul'e 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View through a portion of an automobile body vided to secure the head lining and the side cover- The other edge of Said body 11 is turned in a .ing material in place. e direction opposite from the bottom of the channel i Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view 0i the Sheet l 12 to provide'an attaching'flange 14 Vof suitable; metal Connecting member forming all essential Width. Preferably, forthe purpose hereinafter'rpart of this invention. 1 Y i m described, 4pron'gsf15-are stuck fromthe flange 583 14 and turned at right angles to the body 11 in a direction opposite from the liange 14, said prongs prior to being bent as just described, occupying the openings 16 in the flange 14.

The sheet metal member just described is utilized to attach the head lining and the side covering to the frame of the body. In order to illustrate apreferred manner of Aapplication of said member toan automobile body, `arconventional automobile body construction is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing, and the securing member is assembled therewith in the preferred manner. The illustrated conventionalbiidy Qonstruction consists of an angle iron 17 that constitutes one of the frame members of thebody, Such member extending around the"bodyabove`thedoors" and windows therein, adjacent the 'top' thereof;`

Attached to the angle iron 17 :is the lsheetlmet'al covering 18 forming the eaves of theroofofthe body, which may carry molding 19. The lower edge-of the sheet :metalmember 18 isbent to form a bead 20.11aving arstraight .inner 4wall-21 constituting a wall of the vgroove Vin `which the window slides. ,Suchfgroove i's-designated `by the numeral 22.' Theinnerlsheathing of the bodyis designated bythe numeral/23. The construction of 'theA` body fof `the vautomobile just `referred to forms .fno part of this Air'ivention,the.particular construction illustrated being lselected merely as an .example of .a type `of lbody construction to which this inventionmay be applied.

y When' Vthe invention vis applied to a'body construction,"as illustrated and-justreferred to, the flange 1,4 of my securingmemberis attached to the'horiaontallegofthe angle-iron 17 .that surroundsthe bodyfadjacentlthe top thereof. The flange 14 maybe securedby spot welding, rivet-v ing, or in any othercnveni'entmanner. As illustrated inFlgu'e 1` Vthe securing member isY attached tothe -frameof the automobile body in such a manner thatthechannel .10 thereinopens downwardly, and theinne'r surface of-.the'body 1`1, constituting one of -the wallsof the l.channeL` is preferably arranged' so l asA to be in valignment withithe innersurface ofthe sheathing 23.

` Preferably, in orderl toifirmlysecurefthe headv lining whichformstheceiling of the automobile body .to thechannel-sha'ped memberjust de` scribed, said lining is attached at its edge to a relatively stiff'bre `strip,24V (Figures 4 and 5). Thelheadlining is designatedby the numeral 25 inthese iigures. As indicated the head-lining'is lappedarounda cornerof the strip 24 and'is stitchedat"26 to-the fibrous orsimilar 11e-:infarcingstrip. After the edge ofthe head? lining is reinforced, .as just described, said .re-inforced' edge is insertedin the channellO with the edge of the head lining .that laps `the strip 24 disposed bet'ween the body 11, constituting one side wall of the panel 10 and the strip 24. The assembly .of .the headlining and its reinforcing strip in the vchannel shaped securing member is provide an uninterrupted surface, although as illustrated in the drawing, the prongs may only partly enter said fibrous material.

After the head lining has been secured in position in the manner just described the covering for the adjacent side of the body is secured in the same channel 10 in the following manner. Preferably, and .usuallythe ,sides ,ofthe body except at the door and window openirigare covered with panels'of suitable size each of the panels`consisting of a fibrous body 28 of cardboard or any other suitable material of proper size hav- -'ingtheezgposedsurface thereof covered by means om fabric covering 29 of any approved kind, the l. fabriclapping the edge of the body 28 and being extended`around'totherear of said body as indicated at 30. The fabric covering at a point where '.it'il'apsdhebackofthe fibrous body is stitched `to said bodyas indicated at 31.

' The panel'covered as just described is inserted with its Vedge in the channel 10 as indicated in Figure 9 of 'thef` drawing. The width of the channel issuch that whenthe edge of the panel is inserted therein' saidedge will snugly fit between thestiffeningmember 24 lforthe head liner and theopposite wall of the-channel `10 serving to firmly clamp the portion of the head lining thatextendsbetweenthe edges of the reinforce-I ment V2.4 against theside .wall A413 of the Achannel member, providinga continuous snug joint betweenthe lining and the securingrnember at all points along kthe length thereof. A smooth, neat-appearing, joint lis `thus provided.

The edge ofthe side panel most remote from. that which is disposed in thechannel -10 is prefuw erably secured. by a suitable snap fastener. A fastener well 4adapted for this use -is disclosed in myPatent '#1,679,266granted July 31, 1928. Byutilizing al securing member having a/channel toreceivejan edge ,of the panel, therlatter isheld rm'ly at all points along the length ofthe channel, and the attachment of `the panelis greatly facilitated because Aitlis secured bysmplyslip- Dingonegpanel edge in Saidhannel and bythen causing the.' fasteners applied to the opposite edge to snap p intothe perforations in .the frame provdedtoreceve them.

'The portions of the head'lining other than theedge insertedpjin theschannel ofthe securing member are secured lin the usual' manner, this constituting no part of the presentinvention.

The invention maybeembodied in other specific forms without Ydeparting from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. vThe present embodiment is therefore Atogbe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope ofthe invention4 being indicated by the appended claims rather than bytheforegoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning andrange of.A equivalency of theclaims are therefore intendedfto vbe embraced therein.

What I,c,laim and Vdesirefto secure by United States Letters Patent'is: l

1.In combination with the frame of an automobile or similarbody, ametallic unitary channel-shaped member secured to said-frame within said body with its channel opening downwardly, l a roof'rlining extending'across said channel, a relatively stiffreinforc'ing strip attached to an edge of said-lining, said strip andthe'edge lof `the lining being disposedginsaidchannel with the; lin-` ing disposed in clamped relation'between said stripiande twall ofthe channel and means to .se- Cnrersaid.: Stripgnsaid; Channel.V`

2. In combination with agramefpf an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member secured to said frame within said body adjacent the corner between the roof lining and side covering, said channel opening downwardly, a roof lining extending across said channel, a relatively stiff reinforcing strip attached to the edge of said lining, said strip and the edge of the lining being disposed at said channel with the lining disposed in clamped relation between said strip and a wall of the channel, and tongues struck from said member and bent around said strip to interlock it and the lining carried thereby to said member.

3. In combination with a frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member secured to said frame within said body adjacent the corner between the roof lining and side covering, said channel opening downwardly, a roof lining, a relatively stiff reinforcing strip attached to the edge of said lining, said strip and the edge of the lining being disposed in said channel with the lining between said strip and a wall of the channel, and a side panel disposed in said channel between said strip and the wall of said channel opposite said rst named wall whereby the edges of said lining and said side panel are held in said channel.

4. In combination with a frame of an automobile body or similar body, a channel-shaped member secured to said frame with the channel opening downwardly, a roof lining having an edge thereof disposed across said channel and secured to the remote side wall thereof, and a side panel having an edge disposed within said channel between the edge of said lining and the opposite side wall of said channel so as to hold said lining in contact with said last named wall at all points along the length of said panel. c

5. In combination with a frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member` secured to said frame with the channel opening downwardly, a roof lining, a reinforcing strip attached to said lining, said strip at the edge of the lining being disposed in said channel against one of the side walls thereof, with the lining between said strip and said side wall, said lining being extended from said last named side across the opposite side wall of said channel, and a side panel disposed in said channel between said strip and said opposite side wall of the channel, said side panel serving to clamp the lining between it and said opposite side wall.

6. In combination with a frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member secured to said frame with its channel opening downwardly, a roof lining, a reinforcing strip attached to an edge of said lining, said strip and said edge of the lining being disposed in said channel with the lining between said strip and the side wall of the channel nearest to the outside of said body, prongs struck from said member and bent around said strip to secure it against said side wall, a side panel consisting of a body andan outer lining lapped around an edge of siad body, said edge, including the lining, being disposed in said channel between said strip and the side wall thereof opposite said rst named side wall, whereby said lining and the edge of the panel are held in position at all points throughout the extent of said channel.

7. In combination with the frame of an automobile or similar body, a unitary securing member constructed of sheet metal and bent to provide a channel of a uniform width suicient to snugly receive the stiiTened edges of finish material extending in opposite directions from said member, and iinish material having the adjacent edges thereof received side by side in said channel, and means struck from said member to hold the finish material in position during assembly.

8. In combination with the frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member having parallel side walls disposed in a corner of said body with the channel thereof open.

ing inwardly from said corner, a roof lining extending across said channel and secured to one wall of the channel and a side panel having its edge disposed between said roof lining and the other wall of said channel and filling the space between said lining and the last named wall.

9.l In combination with the frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member provided with a straight relatively long and a parallel shorter side wall disposed in a corner of said body with the channel thereof opening inwardly from said corner, a roof lining extending across said channel and secured to the longer wall of said channel by tongues struck from said wall and a side panel disposed in and snugly filling the space between said roof lining and the other wall of said channel.

10. The method of attaching side and roof lining material to a continuous metallic channel ldisposed in a corner of an automobile body, which consists in disposing an edge of the roof lining material in said channel, securing said edge to one wall of said channel, and then inserting an edge of the side lining material between the edge of the roof lining material and the other wall of said channel.

11. An automobile or similar body, comprising a member providing a channel opening inwardly toward a corner of said body and arranged to provide continuous spaced parallel walls, lining material extending in one direction away from said channel and having an edge thereof disposed in contact with and separately attached to one of said walls, and further lining material extending in another direction away from said channel having its edge snugly disposed between the edge of said rst named lining material and the other wall of said channel.

12. In combination with the frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member having parallel side walls disposed in said body frame so that one of said walls is approximately in alinement with the uncovered inner surface of said body and so that said channel opens downwardly, a roof lining secured to said last named wall, and a side panel having its edge snugly tting between the other wall of said channel and said lining material.

,13. In combination with the frame of an automobile or similar body, a channel-shaped member having parallel side walls disposed in said body frame so that one of said walls is approximately in alinement with the uncovered inner surface of said body and so that said channel opens downwardly, a roof lining secured to said last named wall by teeth struck from said wall, and a side panel snugly fitting between said lining` and the other wall of said channel.

BION C. PLACE. 

